I know I talk a lot about warm drinks and how helpful they can be during times of sickness or when you need to hydrate mucous membrane tissues. Warm beverages are very comforting during the colder months, but with the extreme heat we experience in an Alabama August, it’s really difficult to get on board with hot beverages. I still have my morning cup of tea or coffee, depending on my mood, but through the rest of the day in this heat I want something cool and refreshing. A summertime cooler is always in my fridge these days so I thought I would share a recipe.
There’s a lot of stuff on the market that fits the bill for cool and refreshing. Everything from sodas to fruity kids drinks to adult beverages. And while there’s a place for all of them for different folks, some of it is too taxing on our system for day-to-day consumption.
For a healthier option, I look to herbal coolers. They’re customizable to your taste or herbal needs, they can be really easy to make, and you are in complete control of what’s in them. Here’s a simple and delicious summertime herbal cooler recipe just for you!
Mint+Hibiscus Summertime Cooler Recipe
A super simple mint hibiscus cooler can be made with tea bags you can get from the grocery store.
What you’ll need:
– Hibiscus herbal tea bags
– Mint herbal tea bags or 2 tsp. fresh or 1 tsp. dried from your garden
– A quart jar or pitcher
– Boiling water
– Sweetener of your choice
How to do it:
- Plop one of each tea kind of tea into the quart jar
- Carefully fill your quart jar almost full of boiling water
- Steep for 5-10 minutes
- Enjoy the beautiful color development from the hibiscus
- Remove the tea bags, strain out any loose herbs if necessary
- Let the tea cool completely
- Sweeten to taste
- Pour over ice, garnish with fresh mint if you have it and enjoy!
Who knew a couple of tea bags, some boiling water and a little bit of time could create such a cooling and enjoyable experience? Want to take it a little further? You can always make your tea then freeze it in icepop forms for a frozen treat.
It’s best to enjoy herbal teas within 48 hours of brewing so turning your leftovers into icepops or even ice cubes are a great way to lengthen it’s benefits if you don’t have time to consume it all right away.
Why does it work as a cooler?
Hibiscus
In addition to its sweet-tart astringency, it’s packed with Vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants. Ayurvedic medicine considers hibiscus a cooling herb and cultures around the world have long used it to normalize body temperatures. Studies in recent years have identified cardiac health and blood sugar regulation benefits. Those taking medications for cardiac or blood sugar issues should consult with a health professional or pharmacist before consuming large amounts of hibiscus.
In addition to this tea’s taste, nutrients, and other benefits, it’s one of the most beautiful teas. You’ll enjoy watching the water turn a lovely garnet color while brewing with hibiscus.
Mint
Mint is a classic cooling herb in the southeastern united states. We all grew up with the iconic expectation of family on the large, shaded front porch, rocking the afternoon away while sipping a condensation-covered glass of iced tea with a fancy sprig of mint garnishing the glass. The scene is so often repeated in movies and television that we all think we grew up that way. We didn’t, my family’s house faced west, it was more a stoop than a porch and it sure wasn’t covered, but I have an image in my head. One that I’ve been fortunate enough to create on my own adult front porch that I sometimes use to sip teas and mint-infused adult beverages while visiting with friends.
But what does all that have to do with mint? Well, tradition teaches us a lot about herbs and their uses. Old wives’ tales, while rooted in tradition and not so much science has so much more to offer the way we care for ourselves than doctors and lawyers would have us believe. Our native peoples have a whole system of using herbs and foods as medicine.
Physically, though, consuming mint makes you sweat which has the effect of cooling the body down. It also feels cool to the skin which is why so many muscle rubs and creams contain menthol (the active cooling ingredient in mint). Mint toothpastes and mouthwashes have antimicrobial properties which is why it’s used so often in the mouth. It’s also good for tummy issues as it helps relax the smooth muscle tissue providing relief for gas, bloating, and indigestion.
Mint is a powerhouse of an herb and is gentle enough for everyone, even kids! If you want to start trying herbal teas, mint is where it’s at.
So there you go, a simple and tasty summertime cooler. I hope you try it and if you do I hope you let me know how you liked it!
Interested in more summertime cooler recipes? Let’s talk about putting a tasting together!
♥
Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!